A welterweight clash of epic proportions has just been confirmed by UFC officials to be going down in Japan in 2012 when Jake Shields returns to action to welcome Yoshihiro Akiyama to the UFC’s welterweight division.
“UFC Japan”, while not yet made official by the promotion, is expected to go down on February 26 live from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. As of current date, the event is expected to be headlined by a lightweight title fight between champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Benson Henderson.
“Verbal agreements are in for a welterweight matchup in Tokyo, Japan between former Strikeforce champion Jake Shields and Asian superstar ‘Sexyama’ Yoshihiro Akiyama February 26th,” said UFC President Dana White.
Shields was last seen in action in a losing effort to Jake Ellenberger at the UFC’s Fight Night 25 dubbed “Battle on the Bayou”. The loss marked his second straight making his overall UFC record 1-2 with losses to the aforementioned Ellenberger and Georges St. Pierre. Prior to his two defeats Shields was considered the number two welterweight in the world and was riding high on a 15 fight win streak.
Akiyama is one of Japans biggest stars, a certified celebrity in his homeland Akiyama entered the UFC in 2009 after going undefeated in Mixed Martial Arts action for 4 straight years. Upon arrival into the world’s largest MMA promotion he has only been able to put together one win out of four fights and after dropping three straight in the middleweight division will try his luck at 170 pounds.
*Click here for the latest UFC Japan coverage provided by BJPENN.COM
Related:
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Thiago Alves Set for UFC 149 in Calgary
Jake Shields Wants To Put A Beating On Akiyama This Weekend At UFC 144
Jake Shields Set To Return To Middleweight, August 2012 Likely
Nick Diaz Will Fight Again Says Teammate Jake Shields
UFC NEWS - Shields vs. Akiyama Confirmed For Co-Main Event At UFC 144 In Japan
Jake is gonna kick ass as always!! Too bad its not a UFC…Id like to see it.
you seem quite confused
it is in UFC. its UFC japan at the super saitama.
if by kicking ass, you mean laying on someone for 15 mins, then you are spot on!
lol nice
I don’t know why the UFC would do this to Akiyama, nobody here in the states or in japan wants to see Shields stall Akiyama for 3 rounds. If Akiyama gets cut because he got stalled out by faggot Shields I’m going to be pissed.
Lol they tryna give jake a easy fight to make a comeback
you are right on point… and Akiyama will get cut.. becuz that’s exactly what “lay and pray” shields will do to get a W
this aint no easy fight for Jake,kinda excited to see sexyama at 170
It really is
It really isn’t.
It really is an easy fight. He just got rocked in his previous fight by Jake E. Akiyama is over-rated..in my oppinion. Jake will take him down, grind him down and pick up the sub. #I’mnoShieldsfan
I think it will be a neat fight… Akiyama is a Judo expert and obviously Jake is a wrestler… I can see some neat takedowns or transitions happening in this fight but I think Jake takes it by gaining top control every time… I think he’ll get thrown off of some sloppy takedown attempts but he always works into top position anyways…. I think Jake is a definite win, but I think the fight has a possibility to not be a snoozefest
Nice hash tag, faggot.
Dude he looks like a beast at 170!! Look him up.
all japanese fighters are overrated none of them ever do well in UFC i like akiyama bkuz of his heart bt he gunna get subbed i jst wana see edgar vs bendo now thats guna be a great fight
You are right about the Japanese fighters in the UFC but Akiyama has better stand up and like you said heart compared to Sheilds. He also has a better chin. Sheilds is going to be gaining another loss in Octagon come Feb.
@Lex w @KravMagaJunkie You guys don’t know know how retarded you fools sound.
I wish I could c yo dumb ass face after tha fight
@Lex w
It’s not gonna be easy for Jake, dummy. He doeant have Vitor punching power to KO Akiyama fast and easy. He has to take a Judo Black Belt down to work on his American Jiu Justu. Pfftt… Good luck with that. Saying that it’s gonna be an easy fight for Shields is the most retarded thing I’ve ever heard. Just ask Belcher, Leben, Bisping. They all had to go on wars to beat him. Maybe Shields would grind a decision, but it’s not gonna be “easy” for him. How long you’ve been on mma? You sound like you just got in for a year.
lol yal are dumb shields may be the overrated one and before he got rocked against ellenberger and finished he shot for a takedown that was stuffed like nothing as happen repeatedly against gsp….akiyama will be ready he trains with gsp and i think he will keep fight standing then drop shields
FUCKING STACKED!!!
EDGAR VS BENDO
RAMPAGE VS QUEEN HO/FORREST
AKIYAMA VS SHIELDS
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING MEH!?
I got my fucking ticket on this!! It’s fucking 100x better than any Australia cards!
I’m gonna have a good time on febuary. I’ll lol if they boo Akiyama hahaha!!
This is exactly the same prediction I made! It’s more likely to be Forrest though…
Looks like a shitty fight. They both suck.
I don’t know how people that are one dimensional and only lay on people for 3 rounds like Shields and Guida have fans.
Nice to see Sexyama is finally getting an easy fight. TKO 2nd round.
Jale by sub round 3 when akiyama gasses
I wish I could c yo dumb ass face after the fight
There’s a reason shields is fighting over there he’s not at the level of the ufc I hope he gets his ass beat don’t you remember when he and his bitch ass buddys on strikeforce all tried to kick that guys ass in the ring when the fight was over oh that’s right it was the diaz brothers good thing he had back up when i seen that.that’s when i stopped watching strikeforce
Sorry about last comment didn’t even read just want to see shields get the shit beat out of him I wish bj would fight him and break his arm
Hope Okami v Munoz happens in Nippon!